New York Wine & GrapeExport Program

For several years, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation has conducted a small export program with funding support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Susan Spence coordinates and executes the program (with help from other staff members and industry members), which includes both “generic” (New York) and “branded” (individual winery) components.

The principal activities include “New York Wines” trade exhibits at major trade shows and consumer events; publication of brochures and other literature; advertising and public relations; familiarization tours of New York’s wine regions for the press and trade; comprehensive educational resources such as the New York Wine Course & Reference, the Varietal Series; and meetings with key wine buyers.

Each year, all New York wineries are invited to participate in the program. There is a small per market participation fee. Wineries must contribute a modest amount of wine samples, pay their own travel expenses for some events and branded advertising costs (which are normally partially reimbursable). The program year runs from July 1 – June 30.

In an “average” year, about 20- 25 New York wineries from the different regions choose to participate in the program to one degree or another. Some send wine and people for shows or events and others just have touring groups stop for a visit to gain a little more understanding of how their wines stack up in the international market.